Chicago Fire Season 14 Episode 16 Review: Firehouse 66
Chicago Fire Season 14 Episode 16, “Firehouse 66,” brings us joy and frustration, all wrapped in one. While we are so happy about Cruz and Chloe’s news, Hopkins’s presence makes it really hard to enjoy the good parts of the episode.
From the moment Pascal was removed from his position, fans began to theorize that Severide would take over. If we’re honest, Severide’s entire storyline has prepared him for exactly that role. This is further proved when we find out he was number one in the Captain’s exam.
However, just because we know it or expect it, it doesn’t mean everyone wants the same thing.
Hopkins comes in hot, letting everyone in the firehouse know that he is testing them and expecting them to live up to their reputation. He isn’t happy about Stella and Severide working together, doesn’t like that Cruz’s wife stops by and he misses a drill, and isn’t all that pleased with how Severide handles himself.
He makes it clear that he doesn’t think Severide plays by the rules because he believes he is better than everyone. To keep a close eye on him, he decides to make Firehouse 51 his home base. Truthfully, this only adds to the show’s drama, further making us believe that Severide’s endgame is Chief.
What makes us see Hopkins as childish is that he only holds Severide to such a low standard and with such hate because he used to work with his father. Because he didn’t like the father, now he doesn’t like the son and treats him in that manner.
This is absolutely unfair to someone like Severide, who has worked his entire career to prove he is nothing like his father. We know that eventually he will show Hopkins that.
As viewers, we know that while Severide has bent the rules in the past, he’s only done it for the greater good. There is a reason everyone in the firehouse trusts him so much, a reason why he’s stayed around for so long.
Coming out on top of the Captain’s exam has set on paper that he is ready for the job. But it’s even more important when Van Meter encourages him to fight for the role he deserves.
It’s important for Severide that Van Meter gives him his approval, reminding him he is where he is supposed to be. Now, he can’t back down and let Hopkins push him around.
On the contrary, this is the time for him to “Get your armor on” and fight for his firehouse.
While we’re on the edge of our seats with Severide’s storyline, we’re celebrating that Cruz and Chloe are having another baby. The case the team works on gives us a glimpse of Cruz interacting with a little girl, which makes us wish we could see him as a girl dad. His spirit, soul, and heart are perfectly designed for that task.
Beyond Herrmann and his countless kids, Cruz is the one character we love seeing as a father because it feels like he was born for it. This becomes even more obvious when he shows his concern for Javi’s feelings and asks Severide for advice.
Talking to his adopted son about the fact that there is no difference between him and his blood children is extremely important. But what truly warms our hearts is the fact that Cruz is taking Javi to Honduras to see where he comes from.
This episode is yet another piece of the Cruz puzzle, in which we see he has one of the biggest hearts on the show.
What did you think of this episode of Chicago Fire? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!
Critic Rating:
Audience Rating:
Chicago Fire airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on NBC.
Check out our latest TV recommendations, updated weekly!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Lara Rosales
By day, Lara Rosales (she/her) is a solo mom by choice and a bilingual writer with a BA in Latin-American Literature known as a Media Relations Expert. By night, she is a TV enjoyer who used to host a podcast (Cats, Milfs & Lesbian Things). You can find her work published on Eulalie Magazine, Geek Girl Authority, W Spotlight, Collider, USA Wire, Mentors Collective, Instelite, Noodle, Dear Movies, Nicki Swift, and Flip Screened.